Vacuum adiabatic body and refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A vacuum adiabatic body is provided. The vacuum adiabatic body may include a first plate, a second plate, a seal, a support, a heat resistance device, and an exhaust port. The support may include at least two bars to support the first plate and the second plate. Each of the at least two bars may include a material having a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates, and each bar may be fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2016/008469, filed Aug. 1, 2016, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0109727, filed Aug. 3, 2015, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference.

U.S. Application Ser. Nos. 15/749,132; 15/749,139; 15/749,136; 15/749,143; 15/749,146; 15/749,156; 15/749,162; 15/749,140; 15/749,142; 15/749,147; 15/749,149; 15/749,179; 15/749,154; 15/749,161, all filed on Jan. 31, 2018, are related and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that features disclosed in these above-noted applications may be combined in any combination with features disclosed herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum adiabatic body and a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A vacuum adiabatic body is a product for suppressing heat transfer by vacuumizing the interior of a body thereof. The vacuum adiabatic body can reduce heat transfer by convection and conduction, and hence is applied to heating apparatuses and refrigerating apparatuses. In a typical adiabatic method applied to a refrigerator, although it is differently applied in refrigeration and freezing, a foam urethane adiabatic wall having a thickness of about 30 cm or more is generally provided. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is therefore reduced.

In order to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, there is an attempt to apply a vacuum adiabatic body to the refrigerator.

First, Korean Patent No. 10-0343719 (Reference Document 1) of the present applicant has been disclosed. According to Reference Document 1, there is disclosed a method in which a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared and then built in walls of a refrigerator, and the exterior of the vacuum adiabatic panel is finished with a separate molding such as Styrofoam (polystyrene). According to the method, additional foaming is not required, and the adiabatic performance of the refrigerator is improved. However, fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method is complicated. As another example, a technique of providing walls using a vacuum adiabatic material and additionally providing adiabatic walls using a foam filling material has been disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0012712 (Reference Document 2). According to Reference Document 2, fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method is complicated.

As another example, there is an attempt to fabricate all walls of a refrigerator using a vacuum adiabatic body that is a single product. For example, a technique of providing an adiabatic structure of a refrigerator to be in a vacuum state has been disclosed in U.S. Patent Laid-Open Publication No. US 2004/0226956 A1 (Reference Document 3).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

However, it is difficult to obtain an adiabatic effect of a practical level by providing the walls of the refrigerator to be in a sufficient vacuum state. Specifically, it is difficult to prevent heat transfer at a contact portion between external and internal cases having different temperatures. Further, it is difficult to maintain a stable vacuum state. Furthermore, it is difficult to prevent deformation of the cases due to a sound pressure in the vacuum state. Due to these problems, the technique of Reference Document 3 is limited to cryogenic refrigerating apparatuses, and is not applied to refrigerating apparatuses used in general households.

Solution to Problem

Embodiments provide a vacuum adiabatic body and a refrigerator, which can obtain a sufficient adiabatic effect in a vacuum state and be applied commercially.

In one embodiment, a vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member or first plate defining at least one portion of a wall for a first space; a second plate member or second plate defining at least one portion of a wall for a second space having a different temperature from the first space; a sealing part or seal sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space that has a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit or support maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit or device at least including a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space to decrease a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the supporting unit includes at least two bars supporting the first plate member and the second plate member, the bar includes a material having a lower emissivity than each of the first and second plate members, and the bar is fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

The bar may be fabricated using the low outgassing PC. The bar may be fabricated using the PPS. The heat resistance unit may include: at least one radiation resistance sheet provided in a plate shape inside the third space; and a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along the wall for the third space. The radiation resistance sheet may have a low emissivity than each of the first and second plate members. The radiation resistance sheet may include a material having a higher emissivity than the bar. The radiation resistance sheet may have a low strength and a high stiffness as compared with the conductive resistance sheet. Each of the first and second plate members may include stainless steel. The vacuum adiabatic body may include a support plate connecting the at least two bars to each other. The bar and the support plate may include the same material. The support plate may be provided in a grid shape. The supporting unit may include a porous material, and an emissivity of the porous material may be greater than that of each of the first and second plate members.

In another embodiment, a vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member or first plate defining at least one portion of a wall for a first space; a second plate member or second plate defining at least one portion of a wall for a second space having a different temperature from the first space; a sealing part or seal sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space that has a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit or support maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit or device for decreasing a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the supporting unit includes a material having a lower emissivity than each of the first and second plate members.

The heat resistance unit may include a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space. The conductive resistance sheet may have a lower stiffness than each of the first and second plate members and the supporting unit. A vacuum degree of the third space may be equal to or greater than 1.8×10⁻⁶ Torr and equal to or smaller than 4.5×10⁻³ Torr. The heat resistance unit may include at least one radiation resistance sheet provided in a plate shape inside the third space or a porous material provided inside the third space to resist radiation heat transfer between the second plate member and the first plate member. The radiation resistance sheet may have a lower emissivity than each of the first and second plate members.

In still another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a main body provided with an internal space in which storage goods are stored; and a door provided to open/close the main body from an external space, wherein, in order to supply a refrigerant into the main body, the refrigerator includes: a compressor for compressing the refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant; an expander for expanding the condensed refrigerant; and an evaporator for evaporating the expanded refrigerant to take heat, wherein the door includes a vacuum adiabatic body, wherein the vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member or first plate defining at least one portion of a wall for the internal space; a second plate member or second plate defining at least one portion of a wall for the external space; a sealing part or seal sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a vacuum space part that has a temperature between a temperature of the internal space and a temperature of the external space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit or support maintaining the vacuum space part; a heat resistance unit or device at least including a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the vacuum space part to decrease a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the vacuum space part is exhausted, wherein the supporting unit includes a material having a lower emissivity than each of the first and second plate members.

The supporting unit may be fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). The supporting unit may include a porous material, and an emissivity of the porous material may be greater than that of each of the first and second plate members. The supporting unit may include the PPS.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a sufficient vacuum adiabatic effect. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an industrially applicable vacuum adiabatic body capable of maintaining the vacuum degree of the inside thereof to be low for a long period of time.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used in a main body and a door of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a view showing various embodiments of an internal configuration of a vacuum space part.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating results obtained by examining resins.

FIG. 5 illustrates results obtained by performing an experiment on vacuum maintenance performances of resins.

FIG. 6 illustrates results obtained by analyzing components of gases discharged from PPS and low outgassing PC.

FIG. 7 illustrates results obtained by measuring maximum deformation temperatures at which resins are damaged by atmospheric pressure in high-temperature exhaustion.

FIG. 8 is a view showing various embodiments of conductive resistance sheets and peripheral parts thereof.

FIG. 9 illustrates graphs showing changes in adiabatic performance and changes in gas conductivity with respect to vacuum pressures by applying a simulation.

FIG. 10 illustrates graphs obtained by observing, over time and pressure, a process of exhausting the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body when a supporting unit is used.

FIG. 11 illustrates graphs obtained by comparing vacuum pressures and gas conductivities.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

In the following description, the term ‘vacuum pressure’ means a certain pressure state lower than atmospheric pressure. In addition, the expression that a vacuum degree of A is higher than that of B means that a vacuum pressure of A is lower than that of B.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a main body 2 provided with a cavity 9 capable of storing storage goods and a door 3 provided to open/close the main body 2. The door 3 may be rotatably or movably disposed to open/close the cavity 9. The cavity 9 may provide at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.

Parts constituting a freezing cycle in which cold air is supplied into the cavity 9 may be included. Specifically, the parts include a compressor 4 for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser 5 for condensing the compressed refrigerant, an expander 6 for expanding the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator 7 for evaporating the expanded refrigerant to take heat. As a typical structure, a fan may be installed at a position adjacent to the evaporator 7, and a fluid blown from the fan may pass through the evaporator 7 and then be blown into the cavity 9. A freezing load is controlled by adjusting the blowing amount and blowing direction by the fan, adjusting the amount of a circulated refrigerant, or adjusting the compression rate of the compressor, so that it is possible to control a refrigerating space or a freezing space.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used in the main body and the door of the refrigerator. In FIG. 2, a main body-side vacuum adiabatic body is illustrated in a state in which top and side walls are removed, and a door-side vacuum adiabatic body is illustrated in a state in which a portion of a front wall is removed. In addition, sections of portions at conductive resistance sheets are schematically illustrated for convenience of understanding.

Referring to FIG. 2, the vacuum adiabatic body includes a first plate member or first plate 10 for providing a wall of a low-temperature space, a second plate member or second plate 20 for providing a wall of a high-temperature space, a vacuum space part or vacuum space 50 defined as a gap part or gap between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Also, the vacuum adiabatic body includes the conductive resistance sheets 60 and 63 for preventing heat conduction between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. A sealing part or seal 61 for sealing the first and second plate members 10 and 20 is provided such that the vacuum space part 50 is in a sealing or sealed state. When the vacuum adiabatic body is applied to a refrigerating or heating cabinet, the first plate member 10 may be referred to as an inner case, and the second plate member 20 may be referred to as an outer case. A machine chamber 8 in which parts providing a freezing cycle are accommodated is placed at a lower rear side of the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body, and an exhaust port 40 for forming a vacuum state by exhausting air in the vacuum space part 50 is provided at any one side of the vacuum adiabatic body. In addition, a pipeline 64 passing through the vacuum space part 50 may be further installed so as to install a defrosting water line and electric lines.

The first plate member 10 may define at least one portion of a wall for a first space provided thereto. The second plate member 20 may define at least one portion of a wall for a second space provided thereto. The first space and the second space may be defined as spaces having different temperatures. Here, the wall for each space may serve as not only a wall directly contacting the space but also a wall not contacting the space. For example, the vacuum adiabatic body of the embodiment may also be applied to a product further having a separate wall contacting each space.

Factors of heat transfer, which cause loss of the adiabatic effect of the vacuum adiabatic body, are heat conduction between the first and second plate members 10 and 20, heat radiation between the first and second plate members 10 and 20, and gas conduction of the vacuum space part 50.

Hereinafter, a heat resistance unit or device provided to reduce adiabatic loss related to the factors of the heat transfer will be provided. Meanwhile, the vacuum adiabatic body and the refrigerator of the embodiment do not exclude that another adiabatic means is further provided to at least one side of the vacuum adiabatic body. Therefore, an adiabatic means using foaming or the like may be further provided to another side of the vacuum adiabatic body.

FIG. 3 is a view showing various embodiments of an internal configuration of the vacuum space part.

First, referring to FIG. 3 a, the vacuum space part 50 is provided in a third space having a different pressure from the first and second spaces, preferably, a vacuum state, thereby reducing adiabatic loss. The third space may be provided at a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space. Since the third space is provided as a space in the vacuum state, the first and second plate members 10 and 20 receive a force contracting in a direction in which they approach each other due to a force corresponding to a pressure difference between the first and second spaces. Therefore, the vacuum space part 50 may be deformed in a direction in which it is reduced. In this case, adiabatic loss may be caused due to an increase in amount of heat radiation, caused by the contraction of the vacuum space part 50, and an increase in amount of heat conduction, caused by contact between the plate members 10 and 20.

A supporting unit or support 30 may be provided to reduce the deformation of the vacuum space part 50. The supporting unit 30 includes bars 31. The bars 31 may extend in a direction substantially vertical to the first and second plate members 10 and 20 so as to support a distance between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. A support plate 35 may be additionally provided to at least one end of the bar 31. The support plate 35 connects at least two bars 31 to each other, and may extend in a direction horizontal to the first and second plate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 may be provided in a plate shape, or may be provided in a lattice shape such that its area contacting the first or second plate member 10 or 20 is decreased, thereby reducing heat transfer. The bars 31 and the support plate 35 are fixed to each other at at least one portion, to be inserted together between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 contacts at least one of the first and second plate members 10 and 20, thereby preventing deformation of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. In addition, based on the extending direction of the bars 31, a total sectional area of the support plate 35 is provided to be greater than that of the bars 31, so that heat transferred through the bars 31 can be diffused through the support plate 35.

A material of the supporting unit 30 will be described.

The supporting unit 30 is to have a high compressive strength so as to endure the vacuum pressure. Also, the supporting unit 30 is to have a low outgassing rate and a low water absorption rate so as to maintain the vacuum state. Also the supporting unit 30 is to have a low thermal conductivity so as to reduce the heat conduction between the plate members. Also, the supporting unit 30 is to secure the compressive strength at a high temperature so as to endure a high-temperature exhaust process. Also, the supporting unit 30 is to have an excellent machinability so as to be subjected to molding. Also, the supporting unit 30 is to have a low cost for molding. Here, the time required to perform the exhaust process takes about a few days. Hence, the time is reduced, thereby considerably improving fabrication cost and productivity. Therefore, the compressive strength is to be secured at the high temperature because an exhaust speed is increased as a temperature at which the exhaust process is performed becomes higher. The present inventor has performed various examinations under the above-described conditions.

Ceramic or glass has a low outgassing rate and a low water absorption rate, but its machinability is remarkably lowered. Hence, the ceramic and glass cannot be used as the material of the supporting unit 30. Therefore, resin may be considered as the material of the supporting unit 30.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating results obtained by examining resins.

Referring to FIG. 4, the present inventor has examined various resins, and most of the resins cannot be used because their outgassing rates and water absorption rates are remarkably high. Accordingly, the present inventor has examined resins that approximately satisfy conditions of the outgassing rate and the water absorption rate. As a result, PE is inappropriate to be used due to its high outgassing rate and its low compressive strength. PCTFE is not preferable to be used due to its remarkably high price. PEEK is inappropriate to be used due to its high outgassing rate. Accordingly, it has been determined that a resin selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) can be used as the material of the supporting unit. However, an outgassing rate of the PC is 0.19, which is at a low level. Hence, as the time required to perform baking in which exhaustion is performed by applying heat is increased to a certain level, the PC can be used as the material of the supporting unit.

The present inventor has found an optimal material by performing various studies on resins expected to be used inside the vacuum space part. Hereinafter, results of the performed studies will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 illustrates results obtained by performing an experiment on vacuum maintenance performances of resins.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a graph showing results obtained by fabricating the supporting unit using the respective resins and then testing vacuum maintenance performances of the resins. First, a supporting unit fabricated using a selected material was cleaned using ethanol, left at a low pressure for 48 hours, exposed to the air for 2.5 hours, and then subjected to an exhaust process at 90° C. for about 50 hours in a state that the supporting unit was put in the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby measuring a vacuum maintenance performance of the supporting unit.

It can be seen that in the case of the LCP, its initial exhaust performance is best, but its vacuum maintenance performance is bad or low. It can be expected that this is caused by sensitivity of the LCP to temperature. Also, it is expected through characteristics of the graph that, when a final allowable pressure is 5×10⁻³ Torr, its vacuum performance will be maintained for a time of about 0.5 year. Therefore, the LCP is inappropriate as the material of the supporting unit.

It can be seen that, in the case of the glass fiber PC (G/F PC), its exhaust speed is fast, but its vacuum maintenance performance is low. It is determined that this will be influenced by an additive. Also, it is expected through the characteristics of the graph that the glass fiber PC will maintain its vacuum performance will be maintained under the same condition for a time of about 8.2 years. Therefore, the glass fiber PC is inappropriate as the material of the supporting unit.

It is expected that, in the case of the low outgassing PC (O/G PC), its vacuum maintenance performance is excellent, and its vacuum performance will be maintained under the same condition for a time of about 34 years, as compared with the above-described two materials. However, it can be seen that the initial exhaust performance of the low outgassing PC is low, and therefore, the fabrication efficiency of the low outgassing PC is lowered.

It can be seen that, in the case of the PPS, its vacuum maintenance performance is remarkably excellent, and its exhaust performance is also excellent. Therefore, it is most preferably considered that, based on the vacuum maintenance performance, the PPS is used as the material of the supporting unit.

FIG. 6 illustrates results obtained by analyzing components of gases discharged from the PPS and the low outgassing PC, in which the horizontal axis represents mass numbers of gases and the vertical axis represents concentrations of gases. FIG. 6a illustrates a result obtained by analyzing a gas discharged from the low outgassing PC. In FIG. 6 a, it can be seen that H₂ series (I), H₂O series (II), N₂/CO/CO₂/O₂ series (III), and hydrocarbon series (IV) are equally discharged. FIG. 6b illustrates a result obtained by analyzing a gas discharged from the PPS. In FIG. 6 b, it can be seen that H₂ series (I), H₂O series (II), and N₂/CO/CO₂/O₂ series (III) are discharged to a weak extent. FIG. 6c is a result obtained by analyzing a gas discharged from stainless steel. In FIG. 6 c, it can be seen that a similar gas to the PPS is discharged from the stainless steel. Consequently, it can be seen that the PPS discharges a similar gas to the stainless steel.

As the analyzed result, it can be re-confirmed that the PPS is excellent as the material of the supporting unit.

FIG. 7 illustrates results obtained by measuring maximum deformation temperatures at which resins are damaged by atmospheric pressure in high-temperature exhaustion. At this time, the bars 31 were provided with a diameter of 2 mm at a distance of 30 mm. Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that a rupture occurs at 60° C. in the case of the PE, a rupture occurs at 90° C. in the case of the low outgassing PC, and a rupture occurs at 125° C. in the case of the PPS.

As the analyzed result, it can be seen that the PPS is most preferably used as the resin used inside the vacuum space part. However, the low outgassing PC may be used in terms of fabrication cost.

A radiation resistance sheet 32 for reducing heat radiation between the first and second plate members 10 and 20 through the vacuum space part 50 will be described. The first and second plate members 10 and 20 may be made of a stainless material capable of preventing corrosion and providing a sufficient strength. The stainless material has a relatively high emissivity of 0.16, and hence a large amount of radiation heat may be transferred. In addition, the supporting unit 30 made of the resin has a lower emissivity than the plate members, and is not entirely provided to inner surfaces of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Hence, the supporting unit 30 does not have great influence on radiation heat. Therefore, the radiation resistance sheet 32 may be provided in a plate shape over a majority of the area of the vacuum space part 50 so as to concentrate on reduction of radiation heat transferred between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. A product having a low emissivity may be preferably used as the material of the radiation resistance sheet 32. In an embodiment, an aluminum foil having an emissivity of 0.02 may be used as the radiation resistance sheet 32. Since the transfer of radiation heat cannot be sufficiently blocked using one radiation resistance sheet, at least two radiation resistance sheets 32 may be provided at a certain distance so as not to contact each other. In addition, at least one radiation resistance sheet may be provided in a state in which it contacts the inner surface of the first or second plate member 10 or 20.

Referring back to FIG. 3 b, the distance between the plate members is maintained by the supporting unit 30, and a porous material 33 may be filled in the vacuum space part 50. The porous material 33 may have a higher emissivity than the stainless material of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. However, since the porous material 33 is filled in the vacuum space part 50, the porous material 33 has a high efficiency for resisting the radiation heat transfer.

In this embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body can be fabricated without using the radiation resistance sheet 32.

Referring to FIG. 3 c, the supporting unit 30 maintaining the vacuum space part 50 is not provided. Instead of the supporting unit 30, the porous material 33 is provided in a state in which it is surrounded by a film 34. In this case, the porous material 33 may be provided in a state in which it is compressed so as to maintain the gap of the vacuum space part 50. The film 34 is made of, for example, a PE material, and may be provided in a state in which holes are formed therein.

In this embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body can be fabricated without using the supporting unit 30. In other words, the porous material 33 can serve together as the radiation resistance sheet 32 and the supporting unit 30.

FIG. 8 is a view showing various embodiments of the conductive resistance sheets and peripheral parts thereof. Structures of the conductive resistance sheets are briefly illustrated in FIG. 2, but will be understood in detail with reference to FIG. 8.

First, a conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 8a may be preferably applied to the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. Specifically, the first and second plate members 10 and 20 are to be sealed so as to vacuumize the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body. In this case, since the two plate members have different temperatures from each other, heat transfer may occur between the two plate members. A conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided to prevent heat conduction between two different kinds of plate members.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided with sealing parts 61 at which both ends of the conductive resistance sheet 60 are sealed to define at least one portion of the wall for the third space and maintain the vacuum state. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided as a thin foil in units of micrometers so as to reduce the amount of heat conducted along the wall for the third space. The sealing parts 61 may be provided as welding parts. That is, the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be fused to each other. In order to cause a fusing action between the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20, the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be made of the same material, and a stainless material may be used as the material. The sealing parts 61 are not limited to the welding parts, and may be provided through a process such as caulking. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided in a curved shape. Thus, a heat conduction distance of the conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided longer than the linear distance of each plate member, so that the amount of heat conduction can be further reduced.

A change in temperature occurs along the conductive resistance sheet 60. Therefore, in order to block heat transfer to the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60, a shielding part or shield 62 may be provided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60 such that an adiabatic action occurs. In other words, in the refrigerator, the second plate member 20 has a high temperature and the first plate member 10 has a low temperature. In addition, heat conduction from high temperature to low temperature occurs in the conductive resistance sheet 60, and hence the temperature of the conductive resistance sheet 60 is suddenly changed. Therefore, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 is opened to the exterior thereof, heat transfer through the opened place may seriously occur. In order to reduce heat loss, the shielding part 62 is provided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. For example, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 is exposed to any one of the low-temperature space and the high-temperature space, the conductive resistance sheet 60 does not serve as a conductive resistor as well as the exposed portion thereof, which is not preferable.

The shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous material contacting an outer surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60. The shielding part 62 may be provided as an adiabatic structure, e.g., a separate gasket, which is placed at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. The shielding part 62 may be provided as a portion of the vacuum adiabatic body, which is provided at a position facing a corresponding conductive resistance sheet 60 when the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body is closed with respect to the door-side vacuum adiabatic body. In order to reduce heat loss even when the main body 2 and the door 3 are opened, the shielding part 62 may be preferably provided as a porous material or a separate adiabatic structure.

A conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 8b may be preferably applied to the door-side vacuum adiabatic body. In FIG. 8 b, portions different from those of FIG. 8a are described in detail, and the same description is applied to portions identical to those of FIG. 8 a. A side frame 70 is further provided at an outside of the conductive resistance sheet 60. A part for sealing between the door and the main body, an exhaust port necessary for an exhaust process, a getter port for vacuum maintenance, and the like may be placed on the side frame 70. This is because the mounting of parts is convenient in the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body, but the mounting positions of parts are limited in the door-side vacuum adiabatic body.

In the door-side vacuum adiabatic body, it is difficult to place the conductive resistance sheet 60 at a front end portion of the vacuum space part, i.e., a corner side portion of the vacuum space part. This is because, unlike the main body, a corner edge portion of the door is exposed to the exterior. More specifically, if the conductive resistance sheet 60 is placed at the front end portion of the vacuum space part, the corner edge portion of the door is exposed to the exterior, and hence there is a disadvantage in that a separate adiabatic part should be configured so as to heat-insulate the conductive resistance sheet 60.

A conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 8c may be preferably installed in the pipeline passing through the vacuum space part. In FIG. 8 c, portions different from those of FIGS. 8a and 8b are described in detail, and the same description is applied to portions identical to those of FIGS. 8a and 8 b. A conductive resistance sheet having the same shape as that of FIG. 8 a, preferably, a wrinkled or folded conductive resistance sheet 63 may be provided at a peripheral portion of the pipeline 64. Accordingly, a heat transfer path can be lengthened, and deformation caused by a pressure difference can be prevented. In addition, a separate shielding part may be provided to improve the adiabatic performance of the conductive resistance sheet.

A heat transfer path between the first and second plate members 10 and 20 will be described with reference back to FIG. 8 a. Heat passing through the vacuum adiabatic body may be divided into surface conduction heat {circle around (1)} conducted along a surface of the vacuum adiabatic body, more specifically, the conductive resistance sheet 60, supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} conducted along the supporting unit 30 provided inside the vacuum adiabatic body, gas conduction heat {circle around (3)} conducted through an internal gas in the vacuum space part, and radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} transferred through the vacuum space part.

The transfer heat may be changed depending on various design dimensions. For example, the supporting unit may be changed such that the first and second plate members 10 and 20 can endure a vacuum pressure without being deformed, the vacuum pressure may be changed, the distance between the plate members may be changed, and the length of the conductive resistance sheet may be changed. The transfer heat may be changed depending on a difference in temperature between the spaces (the first and second spaces) respectively provided by the plate members. In the embodiment, a preferred configuration of the vacuum adiabatic body has been found by considering that its total heat transfer amount is smaller than that of a typical adiabatic structure formed by foaming polyurethane. In a typical refrigerator including the adiabatic structure formed by foaming the polyurethane, an effective heat transfer coefficient may be proposed as 19.6 mW/mK.

By performing a relative analysis on heat transfer amounts of the vacuum adiabatic body of the embodiment, a heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)} can become smallest. For example, the heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)} may be controlled to be equal to or smaller than 4% of the total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by solid conduction heat defined as a sum of the surface conduction heat {circle around (1)} and the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} is largest. For example, the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat may reach 75% of the total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} is smaller than the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat but larger than the heat transfer amount of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}. For example, the heat transfer amount by the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may occupy about 20% of the total heat transfer amount.

According to such a heat transfer distribution, effective heat transfer coefficients (eK: effective K) (W/mK) of the surface conduction heat {circle around (1)}, the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)}, the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may have an order of Math Figure 1. eK _(solid conduction heat) >eK _(radiation transfer heat) >eK _(gas conduction heat)   [Math. 1]

Here, the effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that can be measured using a shape and temperature differences of a target product. The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that can be obtained by measuring a total heat transfer amount and a temperature at least one portion at which heat is transferred. For example, a calorific value (W) is measured using a heating source that can be quantitatively measured in the refrigerator, a temperature distribution (K) of the door is measured using heats respectively transferred through a main body and an edge of the door of the refrigerator, and a path through which heat is transferred is calculated as a conversion value (m), thereby evaluating an effective heat transfer coefficient.

The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) of the entire vacuum adiabatic body is a value given by k=QL/AΔT. Here, Q denotes a calorific value (W) and may be obtained using a calorific value of a heater. A denotes a sectional area (m²) of the vacuum adiabatic body, L denotes a thickness (m) of the vacuum adiabatic body, and ΔT denotes a temperature difference.

For the surface conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between an entrance and an exit of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63, a sectional area (A) of the conductive resistance sheet, a length (L) of the conductive resistance sheet, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the conductive resistance sheet (the thermal conductivity of the conductive resistance sheet is a material property of a material and can be obtained in advance). For the supporter conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between an entrance and an exit of the supporting unit 30, a sectional area (A) of the supporting unit, a length (L) of the supporting unit, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the supporting unit. Here, the thermal conductivity of the supporting unit is a material property of a material and can be obtained in advance. The sum of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may be obtained by subtracting the surface conduction heat and the supporter conduction heat from the heat transfer amount of the entire vacuum adiabatic body. A ratio of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may be obtained by evaluating radiation transfer heat when no gas conduction heat exists by remarkably lowering a vacuum degree of the vacuum space part 50.

When a porous material is provided inside the vacuum space part 50, porous material conduction heat {circle around (5)} may be a sum of the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)}. The porous material conduction heat {circle around (5)} may be changed depending on various variables including a kind, an amount, and the like of the porous material.

According to an embodiment, a temperature difference ΔT₁ between a geometric center formed by adjacent bars 31 and a point at which each of the bars 31 is located may be preferably provided to be less than 0.5° C. Also, a temperature difference ΔT₂ between the geometric center formed by the adjacent bars 31 and an edge portion of the vacuum adiabatic body may be preferably provided to be less than 0.5° C. In the second plate member 20, a temperature difference between an average temperature of the second plate and a temperature at a point at which a heat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 meets the second plate may be largest. For example, when the second space is a region hotter than the first space, the temperature at the point at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet meets the second plate member becomes lowest. Similarly, when the second space is a region colder than the first space, the temperature at the point at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet meets the second plate member becomes highest.

This means that the amount of heat transferred through other points except the surface conduction heat passing through the conductive resistance sheet should be controlled, and the entire heat transfer amount satisfying the vacuum adiabatic body can be achieved only when the surface conduction heat occupies the largest heat transfer amount. To this end, a temperature variation of the conductive resistance sheet may be controlled to be larger than that of the plate member.

Physical characteristics of the parts constituting the vacuum adiabatic body will be described. In the vacuum adiabatic body, a force by vacuum pressure is applied to all of the parts. Therefore, a material having a strength (N/m²) of a certain level may be preferably used.

Under such circumferences, the plate members 10 and 20 and the side frame 70 may be preferably made of a material having a sufficient strength with which they are not damaged by even vacuum pressure. For example, when the number of bars 31 is decreased so as to limit the support conduction heat, deformation of the plate member occurs due to the vacuum pressure, which may have a bad influence on the external appearance of refrigerator. The radiation resistance sheet 32 may be preferably made of a material that has a low emissivity and can be easily subjected to thin film processing. Also, the radiation resistance sheet 32 is to ensure a strength strong enough not to be deformed by an external impact. The supporting unit 30 is provided with a strength strong enough to support the force by the vacuum pressure and endure an external impact, and is to have machinability. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be preferably made of a material that has a thin plate shape and can endure the vacuum pressure.

In an embodiment, the plate member, the side frame, and the conductive resistance sheet may be made of stainless materials having the same strength. The radiation resistance sheet may be made of aluminum having a weaker strength that the stainless materials. The supporting unit may be made of resin having a weaker strength than the aluminum.

Unlike the strength from the point of view of materials, analysis from the point of view of stiffness is required. The stiffness (N/m) is a property that would not be easily deformed. Although the same material is used, its stiffness may be changed depending on its shape. The conductive resistance sheets 60 or 63 may be made of a material having a high strength, but the stiffness of the material is preferably low so as to increase heat resistance and minimize radiation heat as the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 is uniformly spread without any roughness when the vacuum pressure is applied. The radiation resistance sheet 32 requires a stiffness of a certain level so as not to contact another part due to deformation. Particularly, an edge portion of the radiation resistance sheet 32 may generate conduction heat due to drooping caused by the self-load of the radiation resistance sheet. Therefore, a stiffness of a certain level is required. The supporting unit 30 requires a stiffness to endure a compressive stress from the plate member and an external impact.

In an embodiment, the plate member and the side frame may preferably have the highest stiffness so as to prevent deformation caused by the vacuum pressure. The supporting unit, particularly, the bar may preferably have the second highest stiffness. The radiation resistance sheet may preferably have a stiffness that is lower than that of the supporting unit but higher than that of the conductive resistance sheet. The conductive resistance sheet may be preferably made of a material that is easily deformed by the vacuum pressure and has the lowest stiffness.

Even when the porous material 33 is filled in the vacuum space part 50, the conductive resistance sheet may preferably have the lowest stiffness, and the plate member and the side frame may preferably have the highest stiffness.

Hereinafter, a vacuum pressure preferably determined depending on an internal state of the vacuum adiabatic body will be described. As already described above, a vacuum pressure is to be maintained inside the vacuum adiabatic body so as to reduce heat transfer. At this time, it will be easily expected that the vacuum pressure is preferably maintained as low as possible so as to reduce the heat transfer.

The vacuum space part may resist the heat transfer by applying only the supporting unit 30. Alternatively, the porous material 33 may be filled together with the supporting unit in the vacuum space part 50 to resist the heat transfer. Alternatively, the vacuum space part may resist the heat transfer not by applying the supporting unit but by applying the porous material 33.

The case where only the supporting unit is applied will be described.

FIG. 9 illustrates graphs showing changes in adiabatic performance and changes in gas conductivity with respect to vacuum pressures by applying a simulation.

Referring to FIG. 9, it can be seen that, as the vacuum pressure is decreased, i.e., as the vacuum degree is increased, a heat load in the case of only the main body (Graph 1) or in the case where the main body and the door are joined together (Graph 2) is decreased as compared with that in the case of the typical product formed by foaming polyurethane, thereby improving the adiabatic performance. However, it can be seen that the degree of improvement of the adiabatic performance is gradually lowered. Also, it can be seen that, as the vacuum pressure is decreased, the gas conductivity (Graph 3) is decreased. However, it can be seen that, although the vacuum pressure is decreased, the ratio at which the adiabatic performance and the gas conductivity are improved is gradually lowered. Therefore, it is preferable that the vacuum pressure is decreased as low as possible. However, it takes long time to obtain excessive vacuum pressure, and much cost is consumed due to excessive use of a getter. In the embodiment, an optimal vacuum pressure is proposed from the above-described point of view.

FIG. 10 illustrates graphs obtained by observing, over time and pressure, a process of exhausting the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body when the supporting unit is used.

Referring to FIG. 10, in order to create the vacuum space part 50 to be in the vacuum state, a gas in the vacuum space part 50 is exhausted by a vacuum pump while evaporating a latent gas remaining in the parts of the vacuum space part 50 through baking. However, if the vacuum pressure reaches a certain level or more, there exists a point at which the level of the vacuum pressure is not increased any more (Δt1). After that, the getter is activated by disconnecting the vacuum space part 50 from the vacuum pump and applying heat to the vacuum space part 50 (Δt2). If the getter is activated, the pressure in the vacuum space part 50 is decreased for a certain period of time, but then normalized to maintain a vacuum pressure of a certain level. The vacuum pressure that maintains the certain level after the activation of the getter is approximately 1.8×10⁻⁶ Torr.

In the embodiment, a point at which the vacuum pressure is not substantially decreased any more even though the gas is exhausted by operating the vacuum pump is set to the lowest limit of the vacuum pressure used in the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby setting the minimum internal pressure of the vacuum space part 50 to 1.8×10⁻⁶ Torr.

FIG. 11 illustrates graphs obtained by comparing vacuum pressures and gas conductivities.

Referring to FIG. 11, gas conductivities with respect to vacuum pressures depending on sizes of a gap in the vacuum space part 50 are represented as graphs of effective heat transfer coefficients (eK). Effective heat transfer coefficients (eK) were measured when the gap in the vacuum space part 50 has three sizes of 2.76 mm, 6.5 mm, and 12.5 mm. The gap in the vacuum space part 50 is defined as follows. When the radiation resistance sheet 32 exists inside vacuum space part 50, the gap is a distance between the radiation resistance sheet 32 and the plate member adjacent thereto. When the radiation resistance sheet 32 does not exist inside vacuum space part 50, the gap is a distance between the first and second plate members.

It can be seen that, since the size of the gap is small at a point corresponding to a typical effective heat transfer coefficient of 0.0196 W/mK, which is provided to a adiabatic material formed by foaming polyurethane, the vacuum pressure is 2.65×10⁻¹ Torr even when the size of the gap is 2.76 mm. Meanwhile, it can be seen that the point at which reduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated even though the vacuum pressure is decreased is a point at which the vacuum pressure is approximately 4.5×10⁻³ Torr. The vacuum pressure of 4.5×10⁻³ Torr can be defined as the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated. Also, when the effective heat transfer coefficient is 0.1 W/mK, the vacuum pressure is 1.2×10⁻² Torr.

When the vacuum space part is not provided with the supporting unit but provided with the porous material, the size of the gap ranges from a few micrometers to a few hundreds of micrometers. In this case, the amount of radiation heat transfer is small due to the porous material even when the vacuum pressure is relatively high, i.e., when the vacuum degree is low. Therefore, an appropriate vacuum pump is used to adjust the vacuum pressure. The vacuum pressure appropriate to the corresponding vacuum pump is approximately 2.0×10⁻⁴ Torr. Also, the vacuum pressure at the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated is approximately 4.7×10⁻² Torr. Also, the pressure where the reduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat reaches the typical effective heat transfer coefficient of 0.0196 W/mK is 730 Torr.

When the supporting unit and the porous material are provided together in the vacuum space part, a vacuum pressure may be created and used, which is middle between the vacuum pressure when only the supporting unit is used and the vacuum pressure when only the porous material is used.

In the description of the present disclosure, a part for performing the same action in each embodiment of the vacuum adiabatic body may be applied to another embodiment by properly changing the shape or dimension of the other embodiment. Accordingly, still another embodiment can be easily proposed. For example, in the detailed description, in the case of a vacuum adiabatic body suitable as a door-side vacuum adiabatic body, the vacuum adiabatic body may be applied as a main body-side vacuum adiabatic body by properly changing the shape and configuration of a vacuum adiabatic body.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The vacuum adiabatic body proposed in the present disclosure may be preferably applied to refrigerators. However, the application of the vacuum adiabatic body is not limited to the refrigerators, and may be applied in various apparatuses such as cryogenic refrigerating apparatuses, heating apparatuses, and ventilation apparatuses.

According to the present disclosure, the vacuum adiabatic body can be industrially applied to various adiabatic apparatuses. The adiabatic effect can be enhanced, so that it is possible to improve energy use efficiency and to increase the effective volume of an apparatus. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vacuum adiabatic body, comprising: a first plate that defines at least one portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first space having a first temperature; a second plate that defines at least one portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature different from the first temperature of the first space; a seal provided between the first plate and the second plate to provide a third space that has a third temperature between the first temperature of the first space and the second temperature of the second space, is the third space being in a vacuum state; a support that supports the first and second plates and is provided in the third space; a heat resistance device including a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall of the third space to decrease a heat transfer amount between the first plate and the second plate; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the support includes at least two bars to support the first plate and the second plate, each bar of the at least two bars includes a material having a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates, and each bar is fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).
 2. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein each bar is fabricated using the low outgassing PC.
 3. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein each bar is fabricated using the PPS.
 4. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the heat resistance device includes: at least one radiation resistance sheet provided in a plate shape inside the third space, wherein the at least one radiation resistance sheet has a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates.
 5. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 4, wherein the at least one radiation resistance sheet includes a material having a higher emissivity than a material of each bar.
 6. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 4, wherein the at least one radiation resistance sheet has a low strength and a high stiffness as compared with that of the conductive resistance sheet.
 7. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second plates comprises stainless steel.
 8. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, further comprising a support plate connecting the at least two bars to each other, wherein the at least two bars and the support plate comprise the same material.
 9. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 8, wherein the support plate is provided in a grid shape.
 10. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the support includes a porous material, and an emissivity of the porous material is greater than emissivities of each of the first and second plates.
 11. A vacuum adiabatic body, comprising: a first plate that defines at least one portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first space having a first temperature; a second plate that defines at least one portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature different from the first temperature of the first space; a seal that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a third space that has a third temperature between the first temperature of the first space and the second temperature of the second space, the third space being in a vacuum state; a support that supports the first and second plates and is provided in the third space; a heat resistance device that decreases a heat transfer amount between the first plate and the second plate; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the support includes a material having a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates, wherein the support is fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).
 12. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 11, wherein the heat resistance device includes a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space.
 13. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 12, wherein the conductive resistance sheet has a lower stiffness than that of each of the first and second plates and the support.
 14. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 11, wherein a vacuum degree of the third space is equal to or greater than 1.8×10⁻⁶ Torr and equal to or smaller than 4.5×10⁻³ Torr.
 15. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 11, wherein the heat resistance device includes at least one radiation resistance sheet provided in a plate shape inside the third space or a porous material provided inside the third space to resist radiation heat transfer between the second plate and the first plate.
 16. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 15, wherein the at least one radiation resistance sheet has a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates.
 17. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body provided with an internal space in which goods are stored; and a door provided to open and close the main body from an external space, wherein, in order to supply a refrigerant into the main body, the refrigerator comprises: a compressor that compresses the refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the compressed refrigerant; an expander that expands the condensed refrigerant; and an evaporator that evaporates the expanded refrigerant, wherein the door comprises a vacuum adiabatic body, the vacuum adiabatic body comprising: a first plate that defines at least one portion of an interior of a wall adjacent to the internal space having a first temperature; a second plate that defines at least one portion of an exterior of the wall adjacent to the external space having a second temperature; a seal that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a vacuum space that has a third temperature between the first temperature of the internal space and the second temperature of the external space, the vacuum space being in a vacuum state; a support that supports the vacuum space; a heat resistance device capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall of the vacuum space to decrease a heat transfer amount between the first plate and the second plate; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the vacuum space is exhausted, wherein the support comprises a material having a lower emissivity than emissivities of each of the first and second plates and wherein the support is fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).
 18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the support comprises a porous material, and an emissivity of the porous material is greater than that of each of the first and second plates.
 19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the support comprises the PPS. 